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Welcome to the N2Growth blog, a robust knowledge center of articles curated by our team of thought leaders. Our practice areas encompass a full range of knowledge and information that we regularly share with you to enable success and create positive impact in organizations. We invite you to comment, share, and be a part of the growing community of some of the most influential Executive Leaders in the world.
The Engagement Secret of Great Leaders
Show me a great leader and I'll show you a talented storyteller. Leadership and storytelling go hand-in-hand. In fact, leaders who lack the ability to leverage the power and influence of storytelling are missing the very essence of what accounts for compelling leadership- the story. Give me a few minutes and allow me to share this message with you - it may just change your life. If you’ve ever…
Salary Negotiation Tips for Executives
If you’re reading this article, you’re either curious or at the winning end of a long and competitive hiring process. Either way, congratulations! Below, I distill thoughts for people navigating executive compensation negotiations. I encourage you to read my notes on why compensation before jumping to how to negotiate. Why compensation? For employers, the goal of compensation is to buy labor that…
The Art of Following Up for Executives
Many say there is an art to the follow-up. Could they be right? Does it really matter? The selection committee is going to hire the most qualified person for the job, regardless, so why take the time at all? For starters, follow up action is a signal many employers look for in judging candidates on their professionalism, general organization, and cultural fit. In fact, one in five hiring…
Leadership Interview: Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner S.A.R.S.
I was privileged to speak at the 2019 Africa Employee Engagement Conference and had the opportunity to sit down and discuss leadership with one of South Africa's most respected public figures, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, the honorable Edward Kieswetter. As we discussed the various issues of employee engagement, we continued to come back to the topic of leadership. Both…
The Guide for Senior Executives to Stand Out on LinkedIn
A simple Google search will yield countless articles on making your LinkedIn profile stand out and optimize for visibility. You'll see tips for making the perfect new headshot, suggestions to add your high school Spanish class, and recommendations for taking a new online certification. All are fundamental recommendations to beef up your profile, and, generally speaking, they are indeed great…
Leadership: A Global Perspective
This fall, I embarked on a worldwide quest to gain insights and perspectives on global leadership in the 21st century. My goal was to meet with a globally diverse group of thought leaders and top executives to discover what is required to lead in today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment. To do this effectively, I sought to understand two things: Elucidate the emerging…
Leading with Gratitude
At N2Growth, we aspire to practice what we preach when it comes to taking care of each other and caring for our clients in a way that is unparalleled. As we look ahead to the upcoming holiday season and ringing in the New Year, we reflect over the past year's opportunities for growth, learning, and overcoming. While doing so, we realized there is a key ingredient in leading that is embodied in…
Help – It’s Not a Dirty Word!
With a new year staring us right in the face, I thought I'd dust off an old post as a useful reminder for leaders planning the year ahead - "help" is not a dirty word. I have always believed asking for help is a sign of maturity as a leader. I think John Lennon said it best: "I get by with a little help from my friends." So my question is this - are you easy to help? Think about it...do you…
The Most Misunderstood Aspect Of Great Leadership
I was recently asked what I consider to be the most misunderstood aspect of great leadership; in other words, what makes great leaders great? What immediately came to mind is not only misunderstood, but it also happens to be the most often overlooked element of leadership, and the one which also affords leaders the greatest opportunity for personal, professional, and enterprise growth. If you…
The 15 Minute Guide to a Successful Interview
Do you want to learn the techniques which will help you to smash your job interviews out of the park and get you the offer? Learning how to answer any interview question, even those tricky behavioral interview questions begins with plenty of preparation. In this article, I will share my 15-minute guide to a successful interview. My name is Gordon Berridge, and I am the UK Partner and President at…
The Difference Between Great Leaders And Posers
What is the difference between great leaders and posers? This may sound harsh, but the truth is I’ve witnessed far too many people in positions of leadership that wouldn’t recognize an opportunity if it hit them squarely in the face. If you cannot recognize, attract, and acquire opportunities you should not be in a leadership position. Just this week I’ve observed people in leadership roles who…
3 Tips To Get Discovered By Executive Search Firms
I liken the executive search process to a grown-up version of the game "hide and seek". Brands across every sector are the seekers. Executives tend to hide. If you want to learn how to get discovered by an executive search firm - keep reading. The "playground" is big and complex. It spans geographies, industries, and functions. To most, it is unfamiliar. It is also competitive. The best seekers…
Leadership – No Talent Required
While not all leaders will develop their talents and abilities to the same level, all successful leaders more or less begin with the same foundation. Here's the thing - the foundational elements of leadership require no skill or talent whatsoever. Clearly the difference possessed by all great leaders is that they refine, develop, and build from their foundation - they don't ignore it or take it…
Leaders Stop Trying to Be Efficient
Let's cut right to the chase; stop focusing on being efficient - it's a waste of time. Nobody other than perhaps you really cares how efficient you are, but everyone cares how effective you are. Not only do they care how effective you are, but they also care about the effectiveness of those whom you lead. It's important to remember leadership is a people business, and people are messy. Leadership…
Smoothing Rough Edges
How rough are your edges? Which aspects of your professional life need to be smoothed, polished, developed, or refined? Do you understand what it takes to close the gap between success and true greatness as it applies to you? We have all known truly talented executives and entrepreneurs who while successful, still have a huge barrier precluding them from reaching their full…
The Power of Focus
I am frequently asked what it takes to become more productive. My answer is simply to become very, very focused. Focus has always been a powerful characteristic that has served me well in all leadership roles alike. Relentless focus results in aligned priorities, order, discipline, and productivity. That sounds simple enough doesn't it? Then why is this so hard for executives and entrepreneurs?…